The Prabal Gurung, Band of Outsiders, and Altuzarra After-show Celebrations

“I sort of like that people don’t know what it is,” said Fenton/Fallon designer Dana Lorenz of the Georgia O’Keeffe skull painting–inspired brooch she designed for the Prabal Gurung fall 2012 collection. The jeweler, wearing the gold brooch as a scarf fastener around her neck, joined other friends of Gurung in the presidential suite of the Dream Downtown in the Meatpacking District to celebrate the designer’s collection, which was presented earlier that day. Guests including Candice Swanpoel (who closed the show), Maggie Betts, Mia Moretti, and _Vogue’_s Mark Holgate joined the designer for a dinner of braised short ribs. The table was set with tall hurricane vases filled with magnolia branches in a similar pinky-purple as Gurung’s spring collection—a shade we can now christen as Prabal Purple. “The collection was about the transition from hell to heaven, that’s why it’s called Uncursed,” explained Betts knowingly. “But, of course, I loved the hell. That’s the stuff I want to wear.” After dessert Gurung stood up for what seemed like it might be a toast, but he quickly clarified, “Everyone, this is not a toast. I love you all and I’m so thankful to all of you for coming, but I want to dance! So let’s go downstairs!”

Meanwhile, to someone standing outside The Meatball Shop on Greenwich Avenue last night, the fashion crowd packed into the no frills establishment may have seemed like an anomaly. But considering the group within had come to toast **Scott Sternberg’**s latest crop of honest, homegrown, and light-hearted sportswear, the choice of venue was a no-brainer. “I’m pretty basic,” the designer shrugged, adjusting his signature bookish specs. “Classic,” one of Sternberg’s show's stylist, Tina Chai, corrected, herself a case study in a double-breasted Band of Outsiders blazer over slouchy pants. “Scott’s a spaghetti and meatballs kind of guy. He’s all about things that are perfect, timeless, pure, and simple.” Chai might have very well been describing the quaint locale, where guests passed heaping platters of polenta, fresh market salad, and meatballs in every incarnation imaginable while seated family dinner–style at long trestle tables hosted by Bon Appétit and Dewar’s. The experience was so authentic (Sternberg’s mother, Maureen, held court as if it were in her own kitchen) that if it weren’t for the likes of Vogue’s Grace Coddington and Lisa Love and a smattering of long-legged models fresh from the runway, it might have actually seemed like a casual meal chez Sternberg. “I thought, ‘Meatballs? Fashion Week? That’s hilarious. Let’s do it!’ ” Sternberg laughed.

And nearby, the theme inside **Joseph Altuzarra’**s after-show party at the Red Egg on Centre Street was Arabian Nights. A sheer, red canopy was strung over the bar, with tiny lights twinkling above, and mini lanterns casting candlelight over palm fronds. The steady stream of guests (mostly bundled in fur-lined Altuzarra parkas) took pleasure in switching gears from the snow storm temperatures outside to the “sand storm” vibe inside. This was Altuzarra’s first after-party and, as the winner of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund in 2011, there was more than just this season’s show to celebrate. “It was amazing! It was beautiful!” Lily Kwong said as she embraced her aunt, Joseph Altuzarra’s mother. “I’m a sucker for the big show.” J. Crew’s Jenna Lyons, who has been working with Altuzarra on a collection for J. Crew, was also on hand to congratulate the designer. She gave a few hints about the J. Crew collection to come: “Joseph was inspired by Brigitte Bardot and St. Tropez, so the look is ‘slightly preppy bombshell.’ ” By the time the man of the hour arrived, the party was in full swing. “I feel so happy,” Altuzarra said. “I think this was our best collection yet, and I knew I wanted to give my team and all of our supporters and friends a place to celebrate all we’ve achieved.” Next up, Altuzarra is planning a trip to Paris—not for fashion week, but for (“off season!”) pleasure. Kwong has also opted to skip fashion week in the City of Light, “It’s just too cold here—my boyfriend and I are going to go to a romantic beach!”